The balaban, also called balaman (Azerbaijani: Balaban), is a musical instrument with two reeds and a round shape. It is about 35 centimeters (14 inches) long and has eight finger holes and one thumb hole. It is played in the eastern part of Iran's historic Azerbaijan region and in the Republic of Azerbaijan, where it is also called düdük, according to the Encyclopædia Iranica. The Azeri balaban, the Turkish mey, and the Armenian duduk are very similar, but they differ based on their history and location.

The balaban is often made from mulberry wood or harder woods like walnut. The inside of the instrument is about 1.5 centimeters (0.59 inches) wide. The double reed is made from a single cane tube about six centimeters long, with one end pressed flat. The player uses air stored in their cheeks to continue playing while breathing in through their lungs. This method, called circular breathing, is used with many double-reed instruments in the Middle East.

The balaban is found in parts of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkey. It is sometimes called Balaman, Mey, or Whistle in the West Azerbaijan region. The instrument has a body (govda) and a large double reed. It is between 28 and 30 centimeters long and 20–22 millimeters wide. Its sound is soft and not very loud, so it is usually played in small spaces or meetings. A clamp on the reed helps change the sound's thickness. The cane is flattened using a special method and includes a clamp and body. Moving the clamp up or down on the reed changes the sound slightly, allowing it to match other instruments. Another type of balaban is used in ashiq music. Alihan Samedov is a well-known Azerbaijani balaban musician.

Structure

The Balaban, also known as yasti (flat) balaban for its flat mouthpiece and soft sound, is made of a body constructed from apricot wood, cane, barrow, and cover. The body has eight holes on the surface and one hole on the back, located between the first and second holes (called the sound fret). It also includes a stem, a reed, a regulator, and a cap.

The stem, or govda, is a cylindrical tube measuring 280–320 millimeters (11–13 inches) in length, primarily made of apricot wood, though sometimes made from hazel, pear, mulberry, or boxwood. The process of carving the stem is called balaban chakma. The top end of the stem (bash or kup) is shaped round, while the bottom end (ayag) is sharpened. The inside of the stem has a diameter of 10 millimeters (0.39 inches). Eight holes, called "tones" (sas pardasi), are placed on the front side, and one additional hole is placed on the back side, opposite the space between the first and second holes of the sas pardasi. Sometimes, an extra hole called nizam pardasi is added on the lower back side to improve the instrument's sound quality.

The holes on the stem are categorized as follows:

The reed (gamish, garghy, or dil) is made from club-rush plants found in dry areas. It is inserted into the top of the stem and shaped into a double reed. The reed is attached to a regulator (kharak, boghazlig, boyundurug, ulama, akma), a 60-millimeter (2.4-inch) long and 10-millimeter (0.39-inch) wide piece made from willow or grape branch, cut lengthwise. The reed is secured on one side by a collar-like regulator and on the other side by a 7–12-millimeter (0.28–0.47-inch) pivot. The cap (qapaq, aghizlig, kip, band, etc.), made from willow, hazel, cornel, or mulberry, is placed over the reed to protect it. The cap is tied to the regulator to prevent it from becoming loose or lost.

History

In the region, Balaman is also known as Yasla Balaman and flat Balaman.

• Balaman in Black Hearts.

The Balaban was first used in Azerbaijan's orchestra in 1931, when the Folk Instrument Orchestra was created. It is used to support songs in Turkmen and Kurdish cities such as Erbil, Süleymaniye, and Kirkuk. The Balaban has a warm sound and is often played with songs accompanied by heaven, bendir, and Aşık. Kudüm and defle can also perform together or play alone. The Balaban is played by two people, one making sounds and the other playing the melody. It originated in the Caucasus region and was later adopted into Azerbaijani music.

Use

During important events like weddings and holiday ceremonies, a balaban-player often plays with a percussionist. A traditional musical group in Azerbaijan that includes two balaban-players and a percussionist is called balabanchilar dastasi. A short piece of Azerbaijani mugham music, played on the balaban—a national wind instrument—was included on the Voyager Golden Record. This record, attached to the Voyager spacecraft, showcased world music as part of human cultural achievements. The balaban was also used in songs about the countryside and in music for funerals. According to Huseyngulu Sarabski, hunters used the balaban to call quails. Some types of the balaban are also played in ashik music.

Legacy

Kamil Jalilov's recording of the song with balaban was included on the Voyager Golden musical record. The record was attached to the Voyager spacecraft and was used to represent mugham, the only Azerbaijani song included.

Gallery

• Ashuq plays the balaban (on the right) in Baku. The lute on the left is called a Bağlama.
• Azerbaijani musical instruments, including the balaban, are shown on a 1990 USSR stamp.